Greenland 2017: Part II: Disko Island

Last year I spent my first full summer season guiding in Greenland. Together with Sofie Vanmaele, I chartered a 90ft sailing vessel, which sailed across the Atlantic in may. From the early june until late september, we explored the entire West Coast from Cape Farewell all the way up to the fjords near Uummanaaq – a stretch of coastline of approximately 1500km. 9 groups of friends and family came over to join us while hiking and packrafting through some of the most sensational backcountry on earth – the yacht offered a luxurious base camp and allowed us to visit places which are virtually inaccessible by any other means of transport. It was a fantastic opportunity to finally show them around in those remote areas I love and admire so deeply, without leaving real traces behind.

In late june, we sailed north from Sisimiut towards Ilulissat, chasing the disappearing winter ice. The trip focussed on the southern half of Disko Island, where we made several day hikes and 2 overnight trips. Whilst Greenland is largely made up of very old plutonic and metamorphic rocks, Disko Island is a ‘young’ (approx. 50 million years) island almost completely composed of basaltic rocks related to the opening of the Davis Strait. The surrounding seas – with countless humpback whales – are dotted with massive icebergs due to the proximity of the Ilulissat Icefjord.

My mom joined on this trip! Finally I could show her around in this arctic wonderland!

All pictures ©Willem Vandoorne, unless stated otherwise.